Speed indicator.



G. ESTOPPEY.

SPEED INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24. 1918.

1,296,641 Patented Mar. 11,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET l Patented Mar. 11,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 nvewtoz eff UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGES ESTOPPEY, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO MUSA, ESTOPPEY & CO., INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPEED-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 24, 1918. Serial No. 246,488.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGES Es'ro'PrEY, a citizen of Switzerland, residing at Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented Speed-Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to speed indicators and more particularly to a speed indicator adapted to be carried by an aeroplane or other such body moving above the earth to indicate the speed thereof relatively to the earth.

In View of the change in the speed and direction of the wind relatively to the earth and the aeroplane, there is a wide variation in the speed of the aeroplane relatively to the earth even when the aeroplane is traveling, as is usual, at a substantially constant speed relatively to the wind. It is the rincipal aim of my invention to provide speed indicating means which will give the speed of a body such as an aeroplane relatively to the earth regardless of the speed or directionof the wind.

Another object'ofthe invention is to provide a device of the character referred to which is convenient to operate.

Another object is to provide a device for the purpose stated which'has as an operative part thereof timing mechanism arranged to be-readily controlled and observed by the-operator; other objects of my invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

A clear understanding of the invention can best be had by reference to the accompanying drawings showing sighting apparatus embodying the invention in the form now considered best and illustrating the operation of said apparatus. In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away of the said form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view of the sighting member and timing mechanism forming a part of the apparatus of Fig. 1 viewing Fig. 5 from the left.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showing the a section taken on line 3-3 of arrangement of the timing mechanism withrespect to the sighting member; and

Fig. 6 is a diagram explaining the operation of the apparatus. I

Referring to the drawings the numeral (1) designates a sighting tube which is connected, as by means rear of a disk (.4). The latter is rotatably mounted, as by the central pivot (5), upon the frame (6). The pivot (5) is rotatable in the frame and is provided with means such as the usual bolthead (7) situated in a recess in the disk (4) to cause it to rotate with said disk. Adjacent its forward end the pivot (5) has secured thereto a rack (8) the teeth of which are arranged in the form of a sector and mesh with the teeth of a pinion (9) secured upon a rotatable arbor (10) which is supported at its opposite end portions in the frame (6) and in a dial plate (11) secured to the frame in front of the said pinion and rack. The radius of the rack (8) is desirably longer than the radius of the pinion (9) so that for a given amount of rotation of the sighting tube (1) and the disk 4), the pointer (12) which is carried by the forward end of the shaft (10) in front of the dial (11) travels through a greater are than the sighting tube. 'The disk (4) and sighting tube carried thereby are rotated about the axis of the pivot (5) by suit-able means such as crank (14) rotatably supported, as by pivot (15), uponthe frame (6). The said pivot (15) has secured upon the same a pinion (16) which meshes with the toothed periphery portion with the disk (4) as clearly shown in Fig. 3 in which only a portion of the teeth upon the periphery (4) are shown. The frame (6), as' shown, is provided with a flange-like portion (17 surrounding the peripheries of the disk (4 and pinion (16), said flange having secured to its outer edge portion a retaining ring (18) which is provided with an inwardly extending portion rojecting inwardly over the rear face of the disk 4) adjacent the periphery of the latter. The frame (6) also has secured thereto a bracket (19) whereby the apparatus may be secured in proper position .upon an aeroplane or other body, the speed of which is to be measured. The frame (6) is also provided with a flange (20) which supports the dial (11) and surrounds the indicating mechanism in front of the bod portionof the frame (6) A front wall 21 resting at its lower edge upon a bracket (19) and secured at its periphery to the flange "(20) serves as a closure for the front of the compartment containing the rack (8), pm-

of brackets (2), to the ion (9) together with the indicating means operated thereby. The wall (21) is provided with a transparent window (22) to permit the ready observation of the dial (11) and pointer (12).

In the operation of the device it is necessary for the operator to know when a certain predetermined interval of time has.

. continuing to sight along the sighting member. The latter, as shown, is in the form of an ordinary sighting tube with usual crosshairs at right angles to each other and intersecting in the optical axis or line of vision and with an eye piece (30) of rubber or any other suitable material. Intermediate the ends of the sighting tube there is a diaphragm (31) which cuts out a portion of the field of the sighting tube. The timing mechanism shown comprises a stop watch (32), the operating mechanism of which may be of usual construction. This stop Watch is firmly held in position in a casing (33) which is mounted for axial rotation in a frame (34), the casing (33) being held againstaxial displacement from the frame (34), by means of an annular rim (35) on the caslng which projects into a recess in the front end of the frame (34), and by means of a ring 36) which is secured to the rear of the casing (33) and bears against the rear of the frame (34). The frame (34) is secured to the tube (3) by means of suitable flanges, one of which is shown as (37). The frame (34) is provided with a suitable slot through which the operating stem (38) on the stop watch (32) passes, this slot permitting the said watch to be rotated axially within the frame. The stop watch, as shown, is set down a short distance within the sighting tube, although the major portion thereof extends above the said tube, as more fully "shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The pointer or hand of the watch is of eater length than the radius of the frame 34) so that it projects beyond the saidframe and can be seen at its lower end in sighting through the sighting tube, when the said pointer or hand is at its lower position. The dial of the stop watch is desirably graduated so as to indicate in addition to heights of the aeroplane from the ground time intervals corresponding to such heights, as will appear hereinafter. For example, in Fig. 4 the inner series of graduation are hei hts and the outer series of graduation are Intervals of time corresponding thereto.

Suitable means are desirabl provided whereby the same member by w ich the rotation of the tube 1) is controlled also controls the starting of the stop Watch. To this end the crank (14) is provided with a other whenthe sighting tube is in proper when the member (50) is forced inwardly 0 point of the corresponding scale when hub (44) which contains a portion (45) projecting outwardly away from the axis of rotation of'the crank. The cam member (44) co-ac-ts with a roller (46) ,supported in a bearing upon one end of a wire (47 which extends through a rigid tubular covering (48), the wire (47) being provided at its opposite end with a member.(49) which is arranged coaxially with the stop watch (32) and with a member (50) movable longitudinally in a guide in the frame (43) when the parts are in position'preparatory to making an observation for setting the sighting tube. The upper end of the tube (48) may be secured as by a suitable bracket (51) to a stationary part of the machine. The construction and arrangementof parts is such that the parts (49) and (50) are' arranged adjacent each position preparatory to making the observation referred to, but the member (50) is located downwardly away from the member (49) in all other positions of the sighting tube. Means such as the spring (52) may be 9 employed to yieldingly hold the wire (47 in position with the roller (46) bearing agamst the cam member The inner end of the member (50) bears against the lower end of a lever (53) pivoted inter- 9 mediate its ends at (54) and bearing at its upper end upon a bell crank lever (55) pivoted at (56) and having a forked outer end engaging a recess in the stem (38), so that 0 10 the stem (38) will be, forced downwardly to start the stop watch.

In operation, the crank (14) is first rotated so as to bring the pointer (12) to the 0 1 5 the axis or line of vision of the sigitin member makes an angle a (see Fig. 6 with the vertical. The operator also determines the height of his machine as by a barometer or other suitable means and vrotates the stop watch (32) until the fixed reference mark (80) upon the glass (42) registers with the graduation on the face of the stop watch corresponding to such height. During this adjustment the pointer or hand (38) of the stop watch is moved from its former vertical positionof rest, shown in Fig. 4, in an anti-clockwise direction. The aviator upon reaching a certain point such as 4 B 7, point A. At the point B the operator traveling along the line BB" (see Fig. 6) starts turning the crank (14)., causing the sighting tube to be moved about the axis of pivot (5) so as to cdntinually maintain the point A'in the line of vision of the sighting tube. As soon as the operator begins to rotate the crank (14) the projection (45) on the member ('44) moves the wire (47) so as to cause the member (49) to shift member (see Fig. 6) will sight a certain 120 the operator so as to maintain the point A in the line of vision or axis of the sighting tube (1) until the pointer (38) reaches a vertical position registering with the vertical cross-hair of the sighting tube. this moment the crank has been rotated for a period of time corresponding to the time required for an object to drop to the ground from a height equal to that at which the aeroplane is traveling, and the rotation of the crank is immediately stopped. At this time the axis or line of vision of the'sighting member (1) makes an angle b with the vertical, the machine having reached the point B it being assumed that for the small interval of time in question the aeroplane is maintained at a substantially constant height above the. ground and is operated at a constant speed. The pointer (12) will now point to a graduation of the scale upon the dial (11) which gives the absolute speed of the aeroplane relatively to the ground or earth regardless of the speed or direction of the wind.

. a The theory upon which the apparatus operates will be clear by reference to the diagram shown in Fig. 6.

If V the speed of the aeroplane relatively to the earth and t the timeit takes flpfi the aeroplane to travel from B to B.

But

as: sin 6 AB sm KFB- sin c sin (5 +90") sin 0 (W H i sin c "T a (in' b+90 (2) From (1) and (2) sinc - T(sin (ac+90) (cos 0)) for all altitudes (H), I make constant.

Where H is 'expressed in meters and t in seconds, a sultable value of this constant is body containing the period of timev 108 which gives the values in the following ta e:

Alt'itudes Time in H in meters. seconds. T

Under these conditions the only variable angular movement of the tube (1) during the passage of the aeroplane from B to B known, the speed of the aeroplane can be computed and the graduations of the scale on dial (11) readily marked.

While I have shown and described the form of my invention which I now consider best, numerous modifications may be made in the apparatus shown without departing from my invention. I

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In apparatus of the class described for use on a moving body such as an aeroplane, the combination of sighting means comprising a movable sightin I operable by maintaining the line of VlSlOIl of said means upon a certain point for a predetermined eriod of time to indicate directly the'spee of the body relatively to the point.

2. In apparatus of the class described for use 'on a moving bod such as an aeroplane, the combination of sighting means comprising a member movableto change the direction of the line of vision to the vertical, and means operable by maintaining the line of vision of said sighting means upon a fixed point upon the earth for a predetermined depending upon the height of the moving body above the earth to indicate the speed of the body relatively to the'earth.

3. In apparatus of the class described for use'on a moving body, such as an aeroplane, the combination of sighting means comprising a'member movable to change the direction of the line of vision to the vertical, and

means operable by maintaining the line ofvision of said sig ting means upon a fixed period of time: depending upon the height of the moving'body above the earth to indicate the speed of the body relatively to the earth, said indicating means including a scale member and index one of which is movable relatively to the other.

4. In apparatus of the class described for use on a moving body, such as an aeroplane, the combination of sighting means comprising a member. movable to change the direc-' tion of the line of vision to the vertical, and means operable by maintaining the line of.

member, and means &

vision of said sighting means upon a fixed point upon the earth for a predetermined period of time dependin upon the height of the moving body above t e earth to indicate the speed of the body relatively to the earth, said indicatin means comprising a 'scale member and in ex member and speed increasing means for transmitting the movement of said-movable member to one of said last named members.

5. In apparatus of the class described for use on a moving body, such as an aeroplane, the combination of sighting means comprising a member movable to change the direction of the line of vision to the vertical means operable by maintaining the line of vision of said sighting means upon a fixed point upon the earth for a predetermined period of time depending upon the hei ht of the moving body above the earth to in icate the speed of the body relatively to the earth,

and timing mechanism-having time indicating means visible when sighting with said sighting means.

6. In apparatus of the class described for use on amoving body, such as an aeroplane, the combination of si hting means comprising a member movab e to change the direction of the line of vision to the vertical means operable by maintaining the line oi vision of said sighting means upon a fixed point upon the earth for a predetermined period of time dependin upon the height of the moving body above t e earth to indicate the speed of the body relatively to the earth, and timin mechanism carried by said movable mem er and having an indicator arranged to travel in the field of said sighting means.

7. In apparatus of the class described for use on a moving body, such as an aeroplane, the combination of sighting means comprising a member movable to change the direction of the line of vision to the vertical means operable by maintaining the line oi vision of said sig ting means upon a fixed point upon the earth for a predetermined period of time depending upon the height of the moving body above the earth to indicate the spec of the body relatively to the earth, and timing mechanism carried by said sighting means and havin -an indicator arranged to travel in the eld thereof, said sighting means having a reference mark for said indicator, and said'timin mechanism being adjustable to set said indlcator toward or away from said mark.

8. In apparatus of the class described for use on a moving body, such as an aeroplane, the combination of sighting means comprising a member movable to change the direction of the line of vision to the vertical,

means operable by sighting a fixed point with said sighting means a predetermined body relatively to the earth, timing mechanism having time indicating means visible when sighting with said sighting member, and means comprising a unitary operating member. for moving said movable member and controlling the operation of said timing mechanism.

9. In apparatus of the class described for use on a moving body, such as an aeroplane, the combination of sighting means comprising a member movable to change the direction of the line of vision to the vertical, means operable by sighting a fixed point with said sighting means a predetermined eriod of time to indicate the speed of the ody relatively to the earth, timing mechanism carried by said sighting means and means comprising a unitary operating meme speed of a body, said means being operableby making an observation with said sighting member for a predetermined period of time, timing means and means comprising a unitary operating member for moving said sighting member and controlling the operation of said timing means.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of means comprising a movable sighting member for indicating the speed of. a body, timing means, and means comprising a unitary operating member for moving said sighting member and control ling the operation of said timing means.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of means comprising a mova'ble sighting member for indicating the speed of abody, said means being operable by making an observation with said sighting membeygfor a predetermined period of time, and timing-means mounted to be,observable when sighting with said sighting member.

13. In apparatusof the class described for" determining the relative speed between two bodies, the combination of sighting means adapted to be carried by one body and comprising a member movable to change the direction of the line of vision, and means operable by maintaining the line of vision and comprising a member movable to change the direction of the line of vision, and means operable b [maintaining the line of vision of said sig ting means upon a fixed means adapted to be carried by one body point upon the other body for a predetermined period of time to indicate directly" speed on said scale for various distances between said bodies.

15. In apparatus of the class described for use on a moving body, such as an aero-'- plane, the combination of sighting means comprising a member movable to change the direction of the line of vision to the vertical, and means operable by movement of said member to indicate directly the speed of the body relatively to the earth, said indicating means including a member having. a scale, an index, and means for producing a relative movement between sald scale and index by the operation of said sighting means to indicate the said relative speed on said scale for various distances between said bodies.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of means comprising a movable sighting member for indicating the.

speed of a dy, and timing means connected with said sighting member, and arranged to be observed by an operator when si hting with said sighting member.

11 testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGES ESTOPPEY. 

